Combination refuse receiving receptacle and supporting rack



Jan. 26, 1965 c. SMITH 3,167,205

COMBINATION REFUSE RECEIVING RECEPTACLE AND SUPPORTING RACK Filed Oct. 3, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l I NVE N TOR. CU -Nae (N) wfz-H T .z' 55-3 id/a7 Jan. 26, 1965 COMBINATION REFUSE RECEIVING RECEPTACLE AND SUPPORTING RACK Filed Oct- 5, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 :undesirable animal life. 1 protecting the garbage receptacles and their contents United States Patent 3,167,265 COMBINATION REFUSE RECEIVING RECEP- TACLE AND SUPPORTING RACK larence Smith, 318 N. C St., Wellington, Kans. Filed Oct. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 313,512 5 Claims. (Cl. 220-48) This invention relates to a refuse receiving receptacle and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to the refuse receiving receptacle and a novel rack which is used to pivotally support the receptacle so that it may be more easily filled, and more easily emptied after it has become full.

In disposing of domestic trash, garbage and other refuse, certain well known problems exist relative to maintaining sanitary conditions around the receptacles in which such refuse is placed pending removal by the municipality. These problems include ease or convenience of emptying the recetacles when the refuse is collected by the municipality, preventage of rusting or deterioration of the receptacle in which the refuse is located, etc. Most frequently, garbage, trash and other heterogeneous waste materials are placed by residents and business establishments in large cylindrical cans or drums pending collection or removal of the cans by the municipal employees charged with this duty. Varying methods are utilized by municipalities for transferring the refuse from the drums or cans to garbage trucks or other collection vehicles. However, in many of these methods, the garbage possessed by the city employees charged with garbage collection. In effecting the transfer of the trash or garbage, spillage frequently occurs with the result that untidy and unsanitary conditions result in the locale of the homeowners garbage receptacle, which must therefore frequently be cleaned up and policed. Moreover, in many instances, due to the contents or construction of the drums or cans in which the garbage is stored while awaiting pickup by the city employees, the transfer of the contents of the can to the receptacles possessed by the municipal employees is quite difficult due to the heavy weight and cumbersome nature of the cans. Also, in some instances, the cans are retained in or on racks in a semipermanent fashion which, due to the rack construction, makes their removal therefrom difficult and time-consuming.

In addition to the various difficulties and problems experienced in the collection of refuse and garbage by municipalities, it is common knowledge that such cylindrical or drum-type garbage receptacles are the object of attacks by dogs, cats or other domestic animals, and also frequently become infested with insects, rodents and other To the end of more efliciently against attacks by domestic animals and infestation by vermin, numerous constructions of garbage cans and,

particularly, racks or stands for supporting these cans have been developed which undertake to more firmly secure the lids on the cans, or to more stably support the cans against attacks by animals, and to support the cans spaced from the ground so that accessibility to rodents, roaches and other crawling animals is reduced.

The present invention comprises an improved combination trash or garbage receptacle and supporting rack which permits many of the hereinbefore described probmembers which are spaced from each other and which pivotally support between them a garbage receptacle so {that the lower end of the receptacle is spaced well above Cir the ground, and so that the receptacle is balanced to pivot easily from a refuse receiving position to a refuse dumping position without the application of a large amount of force in order to. effect such pivotation. At their upper ends, the rigid upstanding members carry a stop means which serves to reinforce the upstanding members, and to form a framework therewith to prevent pivotation of the refuse receptacle past a certain position as it moves from a dumping position to a trash receiving position. The rigid upstanding members which pivotally support the refuse receptacle are each pivoted to a horizontal platform which rests upon the ground so that these members may themselves be pivoted about a horizontal pivotal axis to increase the ease with which all of the contents of the refuse receptacle may be removed.

In one of its embodiments, the invention further includes a semicylindrical guide or sleeve means which is slidably positioned concentrically within a cylindrical refuse receptacle mounted in the manner hereinbefore decribed, with such sleeve means being slidable between an extended position projecting outwardly from the open end of the refuse receptacle, and a retracted position in which it is retracted into the refuse receptacle to permit ready access to the entire area of the open mouth of the receptacle.

The thus generally described structure which is embodied in the present invention provides a combination supporting rack and refuse receptacle which may be employed to permit garbage, trash or other refuse to be easily deposited in the receptacle at all times prior to dumping.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved combination refuse receptacle and rack for supporting the same.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a drum-type garbage receptacle for receiving table scraps, trash, garbage and heterogeneous refuse, which receptacle is supported in a rack in a manner which permits it to be more easily divested of its contents in the course of the usual refuse pickup runs by municipal employees.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a cylindrical garbage receptacle having an open mouth at one end thereof which is maintained in an accessible position to facilitate the transfer of refuse to the receptacle.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a refuse receptacle which is pivotally and stably supported on a rack and spaced above the ground to prevent rodents, vermin and domestic animals from entering the can, or from overturning the can and rack.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a refuse receptacle into which refuse may be placed and from which refuse may be transferred to another receptacle without scattering or inadvertent deposition of the refuse on the ground surrounding the receptacle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rack or stand for pivotally supporting a cylindrical refuse receptacle, which rack is sturdy, yet economical in construction.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a combination garbage receptacle and rack cooperating with and supporting the receptacle, which combination is relatively inexpensive to construct, and is characterized by a long and trouble-free operating life.

In addition to the foregoing described objects and advantages of the invention, other objects and advantages will become apparent as the following detailed description of the invention is read in conjunction with a perusal of the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a view in elevation of the refuse recepwhen in the refuse receiving position. V

tacle and its supporting rack. In FIGUR E 1, the refuse receptacle is shown in its refuse receiving position with 'the lid in place.

FIGURE 2 is a view in elevation similar to FIGURE 1, but showing the refuse receptacle pivoted downwardly tovdischarge its contents into a transfercontainer.

- enemas FIGURE 3 is a view in elevation similar to FIGURES 1' and 2, but showing the refuse receptacle positioned relative to the supporting rack intthe same manner 'as disclosed in FIGURE 2, and showing thesupportingtra ck pivoted about a horizontal axis to permit a more complete discharge of the contents of the refuse receptacle.

FIGURE 4 is a view in elevation taken at 90 to the} elevational viewshown in FIGURE 1 and illustrating the I refuse receptacle and its supporting rack as they appear FIGURE 5 is a longitudinalsectional view taken through the center of the refuse receptacle along the longitudinal axis thereof. The receptacle supporting rack is not illustrated.

FIGURE 6 is 'a sectional view taken along'line;6'6

of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a detail view "of the latching arrangement used to secure the refuse receptacle of the present upright position on its" invention in its refuse receiving supporting rack.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and particu larly to FIGURE 1, the novel refusereceiving and'flstorage structure of thepresent'invention comprises a horizontal base structure designated generally by reference 7 character 10 which includes a pair of parallel runners 12 (see FIGURE 6) which may suitably beconstructed "of c The runners 12 are interconnected and braced by suitable cross members 14. 7

angle iron.

The horizontal base structure' 10 supports a pair of horizontally spaced upright members 16 which, in one embodiment of the invention may assume the form ofa regular trapezoid formed by converging side'piecesl inshown inFIGURE 4. The, rigid upright members 16 each support at their upper ends, a suitable trunnion or when consideredin conjunction with other structural details hereinafter described. Thus, it will be noted in referring 'toFIGURE' 1, that the journal blocks 34 are positioned slightly below the center of the receptacle as measured along its vertical axis; Stated differently, the

journal blocks 34 should be positioned sufficiently toward the bottom of the receptacle 30 that the center of gravity of the, empty receptacle 30' when it occupies the position shown in FIGURE 1' acts downwardly in a line which passes to the right of the pivotal axis of the receptacle. With the receptacle'mounted in this way, the receptacle constantly tends to pivot downwardly toward the position shown in FIGURE 2. and can be retained, even when empty, in the FIGURE 1: position only through the use of thelatching meansr42 whichis hingedly connectedito ,to, which projection may be hooked over the bight 48 of a generally U-shaped bracket 50 which is best seen in FIGURE 4. The U-shapedbracket50 includes, in addition torthe bight 48, a pair of legs 52 which are welded -or otherwise suitably secured at their lower ends to the upper ends'ofthe rigid upright'members 16, and preferably to the trunnion supporting member 24. The manner-in Whichthe latching means 42 engages the bight 48 of, the U-shaped member 50 when the receptacle 30 is in ,its refuse receiving position as, shown'inFIGURE 1 is best illustrated inFIGURE w v I In order to permit the more eflicient displacement of the. contents of the refuse receptacle 30 therefrom during -pickup,. b'y municipal employees, the; receptacle supporting rackis pivotally connected to the horizontal base 10 j to permit the rack to bepivoted in the manner illustrated -in FIGURE 3. This construction, in. one embodiment terconnectedintermediate their length by a horizontal brace 20. The rigid upright members '16 maybeinter-V connected by one or more horizontalcross pieces 22 as' of the invention, is provided by journaling one of the legs 18 of1each of the rigid-upright members 16 on a horizontal bar 60 which is secured at.its opposite ends a to the angle iron runners 12. As'an alternative construcbearing supporting member 24, each' of which, as illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 6, supports a trunnion or bearing socket 26'. In the embodiment of the invention illustratcd in the drawings, the trunnion supporting members 24 are angle iron strips to which the trunnions 26' are :secured in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6.

The rigidu'pright members. 16 are spaced from each "other by .a distance slightly greater, thanthe diameter of a refuse receptacle; which it 'is desired to pivotally supporton the uprightmembers. A cylindrical drum or can 31} having a suitable lit-i 32 provided therefor is pivotally suspended between the rigid upright'members, 16 in the manner illustrated in FIGURES l, 4 and",6.' Support for tion, the legs 18 may instead be secured to the horizontal bar 601 andtthis bartjournaled at its opposite ends in the runners'12; I t In order to facilitate the discharge of thecontents of the refusereceptacle 30, a receiving container, suc'has a rectangular box ,62, as illustrated in FIGURES'Z and '3,

is placed beneath and to one side of the receptacle. A

retractable guide means, suchjas the semicylindrical sleeve 64, is mounted concentrically inthe receptacle 30. The

semicylindrical sleeve 64 is retractably mounted in the Y cylindrical refuse receptacle 30 in the manner most clear:

" ly illusttatedihFIGURESS and 6.- As will be discerned in referringto FIGURE 6, the semicylindrical sleeve 64 His substantially complementary invconfiguration to the therefuse receptacle 30 is provided by bolting or othert Wise 'suitably'securing to the receptacle on opposite sides thereof, a pair of journal blocks or hubs 34. I The, journal blocks 34 each rotatably receive oneend of a short stub shaft or axle 36 which ;',extends at itslother end through therespective trunnion supporting member 24 and into the respective trunnion block 26. Axial movement of the stub shafts 36 relative to'the journal blocks 34 and trunnionblocks 26is prevented by any suitable means, such asby inserting .a pin 40 through one end of the shaft into the trunnion blocks 36, as illustrated in FIGURE 6. It will be -perceived that, in the illustrated arrangement for supporting the'receptacle 30 on the rigid upright members 16, the receptacle is free to pivot about the horizontal pivotalaxis formed by the stub shafts ,36 on either sidethereof. 1

The location of the journal blocks 34'on the receptacle 30 is of considerable importance, and is believed to be a novel feature of the present invention, particularly wall of the refuse receptaclei30 'sothat it does not substantially lessen the. total capacity of the receptacle 30 when the sleeve'is retracted therein in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5 The retractable sleeve 64 is gravity actuated in its sliding movements relative to the receptacle 30, and moves in a pair of vertically extending angle iron tracks66 which are welded or otherwise suitably secured to-the'inner walls of the receptacle. 30 and extend parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof. The longitudinal edges 67 of .the semicylindrical.retractable sleeve 64 rideon the angle iron tracks 66 during sliding movement of the sleeve -in and "out of the 'receptacle'30i A stop member 68 is securedtto each or the tracks 66' at a point therealong 'which'ispreferably about two-thirds of the distance from {the innermost. end of the respective track 66 to that end which is adjacent the top of the refuse receptacle 30. The stop members 68 cooperate with stop members 70 which are welded or otherwise suitably secured to the -'sleeve 64 at the innermost end thereof, and adjacent the longitudinal edges 67 thereof so that the sleeve-secured stop members 70 engage the stop members 68 to limit the travel of the sleeve 64 in the tracks 66. The sleeve 64 is thus prevented from being lost from the receptacle 30 when the receptacle is pivoted to the position shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawings.

A small flange 72 is secured to the inner wall of the refuse receptacle 30 at a position therein which will permit the retractable sleeve 64 to be fully retracted within the receptacle in the manner shown in FIGURE 5. The flange 72, of course, serves to limit movement of the sleeve 64 downwardly in the receptacle when it gravitates into the receptacle as the receptacle is pivoted upwardly to the position shown in FIGURE 1.

Operation With the supporting rack and refuse receptacle 30 in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1, the empty refuse receptacle is balanced on the rack so that if the latch means 42 is released from engagement with the bight 48 of U-shaped member 50, the receptacle will pivot downwardly to the position shown in FIGURE 2. When the receptacle 30 is in use for receiving and storing the garbage, trash and other refuse, the latch 42 will generally be maintained in the engaged status illustrated in FIG- URE 1. It will be observed that the mouth or open end of the receptacle 30 is disposed for easy access in being tilted at the illustrated angle. Moreover, its entire contents can usually be viewed by removing the lid 32. This is sometimes helpful in the event that one wishes to recover something inadvertently discarded, or wishes to better arrange or pack the contents of the receptacle 30.

As refuse is deposited in the receptacle 30, it accumulates initially in the lower portion thereof. Very little refuse need be added to the receptacle in order to shift the center of gravity thereof so that the center of gravity acts through the pivotal axis of the receptacle 30, or along a line which is disposed to the left of the pivotal axis as viewed in FIGURE 1. Thus, during initial depositions of garbage and refuse in the receptacle 30, the balance of the receptacle 30 is shifted so that, even though the latch means 42 be inadvertently or mischievously disengaged, the receptacle 30 still will not tilt downwardly and discharge its contents. A safety factor is thus afforded during a substantial portion of the time during which refuse is accumulated in the receptacle 30 against the inadvertent or mischievous displacement of the latch means 42 by the homeowner or by vandals or other mischievous persons.

As the receptacle 30 becomes filled with refuse, the center of gravity is again shifted to the right as viewed in FIGURE 1 so that the receptacle 30 develops a tendency to pivot downwardly when the latch means 42 is released. When the receptacle 30 has been completely filled, or, when the municipal employees charged with the collection of refuse desire to empty the receptacle 30, the latch means 42 may be disengaged by pivoting the plate 44 upwardly. The receptacle 30 will then automatically pivot downwardly to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2. The balance of the receptacle 30 is such that the downward pivoting movement of the receptacle may be retarded by the application of a small retarding force as may be applied by the use of one hand by the refuse collector. As the receptacle 30 passes a position in which its longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal, the retractable sleeve 64 commences to move out of the receptacle and eventually reaches the position shown in FIGURE 2. In this position of the retractable sleeve 64, further movement of the sleeve 64 out of the receptacle 30 is prevented by abutment of the stop members 70 against the stop members 68 on the tracks 66.

It will also be noted that when the receptacle 30 has reached the position shown in FIGURE 2, further downward pivotation of the receptacle 30 is prevented by abutment of the lower end of the receptacle 30 against the in FIGURE 5.

6 bight or web 48 of the U-shaped bracket 50. This is a safety measure which prevents over-pivotation of the receptacle 30 with a concurrent failure to accurately deposit all of the contents of the receptacle in a box or other receiving member positioned therebelow in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2.

As is well known, household refuse frequently includes gummy or sticky materials and liquids which are adhesive in nature. It is therefore frequently rather difiicult to remove by gravity the entire contents of the receptacle 39, particularly when the receptacle 30 isinclined at no greater angle than that which is illustrated in FIGURE 2. To the end, therefore, of permitting substantially all of the contents of the receptacle to be removed therefrom, the rack which supports the receptacle is pivotally mounted on the base member 10 so that it may be pivoted about a horizontal axis in the manner illustrated in FIG- URE 3. Pivotation of the supporting rack in this manner permits the receptacle 30 to be rotated to an almost inverted position so that any material adhering to the inside thereof may be more easily removed. It should further be noted that the cross member 22 is preferably made of relatively heavy material so that when the rack and receptacle structures are moved to the position shown in FIGURE 3, the center of gravity of the entire structure acts along a line which passes through or quite close to the horizontal pivotal axis of the rack. This permits the receptacle 30 to be more easily controlled and the rack to be more easily pivoted to the FIGURE 3 position.

In referring to FIGURES 2 and 3, it will be noted that the pivotal mounting of the upright members 16 on the base it is such that pivotation of the rack to the FIGURE 3 position does not appreciably lower the open end of the refuse receptacle 30. Thus, the construction employed permits the receptacle 30 to be inverted while reserving a relatively large space therebelow for the accommodation of a sizable transfer container or box 62.

After the contents of the receptacle 30 have been discharged, the supporting rack is returned to the position shown in FIGURE 2. The receptacle 30, by virtue of its relatively light Weight when empty, may then be easily pivoted upwardly to its refuse receiving position illustrated in FIGURE 1. The latch means 42 is re-engaged with the bight member 48 of the U-shaped bracket 50. As the receptacle 30 reassumes the position shown in FIGURE 1, the retractable sleeve 64 moves downwardly into the receptacle and assumes the position illustrated It will be noted that, in this position of the sleeve 64, the sleeve is unobtrusive and hidden from view, and also occupies a minimum of space Within the receptacle 3h. The capacity of the receptacle 30 is thus reduced to a minimum extent.

If it should be desired for any reason to remove the receptacle 3t) from its supporting trunnion blocks 26, this may be easily and rapidly accomplished by extracting the pins 40 which secure the stub shafts 36 in the trunnion blocks 26 and then pulling the stub shafts outwardly to release the receptacle. This construction facilitates a relatively rapid and easily accomplished replacement of refuse receptacles which have become rusted, bent or unduly worn through extended use.

Although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and discussed hereinbefore, it will be understood that other applications and forms of the invention are possible and that many of these will, of course, not depart from the basic principles which underlie the invention. It is therefore intended that any changes or modifications made in the structures hereinbefore described or depicted which do not depart from the basic principles underlying the invention shall be circumscribed by the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims or reasonable equivalents thereof.

receptacle having an open, refuse a first'stopmember carried by the interior of said re j v ceptacleat a position to engage the lower portion of said sleeve'to maintain the upper portion of said sleeve substantially flush with the open end ofsaid receptacle; p 7 a second stop member carried by the lower portion of said sleeve;

a third stop member carried by the interior of said're ceptacle and positioned to engage said second stop member when said sleeve is in said extended position; and

a rack pivotally supporting said receptacle and di-.

mensioned to. supportsaid receptacle above the r acterized to include a base. member pivotallynsupporting v I said rack with the pivotal axes of said rack and of said receptacle being spaced horizontally and extending parallel to each other whereby said receptaclecan be more completely emptied by pivoting both'the receptacle' 'and rack.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said refuse receptacle is cylindrical and said-sleeve means is semicylindrical, complementary in configuration to said receptacle and mounted concentricallyin said receptacle.

5. Apparatus for temporarilycontaining refuse to be subsequently transferred to a portable container comprising:

a base comprising a pair of spaced, paralleL'interconnected' runners;

a vertical, generally A-shaped upright'member mounted on, and supported by, each of said runners, each of said Aeshaped upright members, includingra pair of 0 legs diverging at their lower ends and converging attheir upper ends, and each uprightmember hav ing the lower end of one of said legs pivotly con- 1 nected' to the respective runner for pivotationr about by the upper, central portion a v 8 I v said receptacle-being of a diameter less than the spacing' between said upright members and having an i outletformed therein at the upper'portion thereof; bearing blocks mounted on said receptacle belowthe 5 median portion thereof opposite each of said trunnion blocks; V p I a shaft extending into each pair of said trunnion blocks and bearing blocks for pivotally supporting said receptacle above said runners and betweenssaid A shaped upright members; the horizontal pivotal axes of said A-sh'aped upright memberson' said runners extending parallel to, and beingspaced vertically and horizontally from, the pivotalaxis of said receptacle which extends-through said trunnion blocks, said pivotal axis of said receptacle being spaced along a radius from the horizontal axis of pivotation of said A s'naped upright members on said runners whereby pivotation'of said A-shaped upright members on' said runners moves the pivotal axis of said receptacle upwardly and laterally in an are when said A'-sl1aped upright members are pivoted on said' runners whereby the receptacle may be moved to an inverted, generally vertically extending position without moving the open end thereof closer to the ground,- "stop means for preventing 180 movement of said re- 'ceptacle around said'shafts; said stop means comprising; fl Y Y a vertical legseaclr secured attheir lower ends to said A-shaped upright members at a point verti cally above said trunnion blocksrand. .a horizontal member secured between said vertical legs at a position to contact fthe lower portion of said receptacle when said receptacle 'is. piv oted in one direction about its pivotal axis which passesthr'ough said trunnion blocks andto c0ntact theupper portionv ofsaid receptacle when shafts. V 45 References Cited the Examiner 'UNITED STATES PATENTS 163,126 5/75 Whitesideetal. 7 207,016 8/ 78 Cook 220 30 f 1 ,342,437 6/20 Gordon a. 248-437 ,5 1,3s7, 64s 1 11/20 Miller 248139 2,324,747 7/ 37 Weissert 248137 .v f FOREIGN PATENTS 47, 829 9/33 Denmark.

2/ 12 Great. Britain. THER ON CC NDON, Primary Examiner.

rotational movement about said. 

1. APPARATUS FOR TEMPORARILY CONTAINING REFUSE TO BE SUBSEQUENTLY TRANSFERRED TO A PORTABLE CONTAINER COMPRISING: AN ELONGATED REFUSE RECEPTACLE HAVING AN OPEN, REFUSE RECEIVING END; RETRACTABLE, REFUSE-GUIDING SLEEVE MEANS MOVABLY MOUNTED IN SAID RECEPTACLE AND MOVABLE BETWEEN A RETRACTED POSITION AT LEAST PARTIALLY WITHIN SAID RECEPTACLE AND AN EXTENDED POSITION IN WHICH A PORTION OF SAID SLEEVE PROJECTS OUTWARDLY FROM THE REFUSE RECEIVING END OF SAID RECEPTACLE; A FIRST STOP MEMBER CARRIED BY THE INTERIOR OF SAID RECEPTACLE AT A POSITION TO ENGAGE THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID SLEEVE TO MAINTAIN THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID SLEEVE SUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH WITH THE OPEN END OF SAID RECEPTACLE; A SECOND STOP MEMBER CARRIED BY THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID SLEEVE; A THIRD STOP MEMBER CARRIED BY THE INTERIOR OF SAID RECEPTACLE AND POSTIONED TO ENGAGE SAID SECOND STOP MEMBER WHEN SAID SLEEVE IS IN SAID EXTENDED POSITION; AND A RACK PIVOTALLY SUPPORTING SAID RECEPTACLE AND DIMENSIONED TO SUPPORT SAID RECEPTACLE ABOVE THE GROUND. 